"Reading" messages in Durham

Politicians understand the art of the indirect message. They know that when one of their own says something like "He knows best whether or not he should run. I'm looking forward to hearing what he decides" the pol really means: "That guy shouldn't run."

We simple citizens know something about politicians' indirect messages, too, don't we?

With the foregoing in mind, let's look at some of the Durham Herald-Sun's Jan. 17 story, "Has Peterson crossed the line?" and then "read" a few of the messages some Durham city council members sent to citizens, including two of Durham's most prominent citizens:

Tuesday's City Council vote on the rezoning of Duke University's Central Campus may have put a permanent kink in the council's relationship with one of the Durham political scene's most persistent personalities.

Victoria Peterson, a local activist and perennial candidate for elective office, was the only person who spoke against the rezoning. She felt the council's wrath when she essentially argued that officials should reject the application in retaliation for the university's role in the Duke lacrosse sexual-offense case.

Peterson said rape and other crimes on and around Duke's campus are out of control, and she blamed it on Duke's students.

"Because it's Duke with their money and influence, you want to overlook a lot of the stuff they've done," she said. "They've embarrassed this community."

But Peterson's comments -- which came after activists from two neighborhoods surrounding Duke had endorsed the rezoning -- didn't sit well with the council. One member, Eugene Brown, interrupted with the word "enough," and Mayor Bill Bell asked Peterson to stick to the merits of the application.

When she finished, another councilman, Howard Clement, rebuked her.

"What has been said is not true," he said. "While there are issues on Duke's campus with respect to student behavior and issues on [N.C. Central University's] campus with respect to student behavior, to just grossly place those facts and issues as the overriding issue is totally inappropriate."

But Peterson continued to heckle council members as they prepared to vote, prompting Bell to warn that if she spoke again, he'd order her to leave the council chamber.

That quieted Peterson for a moment, but the confrontation resumed as soon as Bell adjourned the meeting, Peterson quarreling openly with council members Cora Cole-McFadden and Mike Woodard in front of a reporter and between six and 12 city administrators.

Both council members made their anger plain. Cole-McFadden -- who in 2005 crushed Peterson's most recent bid for elective office by 76-24 percent --- called the activist "a liar" to her face.

Woodard added that he didn't appreciate seeing Peterson in television news reports about the lacrosse case "spewing lies and venom," and marching with a hate group, the New Black Panther Party, that came to Durham last spring to picket the Duke campus.

Peterson was not deterred. "You guys kiss Duke's butt," she said.

Just another Durham City Council meeting, you ask?

Well, yes and no.

Yes, in that there's much nonsense and name-calling at Durham city council meetings.

No, in this sense: At city council and other public meetings Victoria Peterson is regularly every bit as reckless as she was at this council meeting; but the council or board or panel members she's addressing regularly ignore her.

Recall, for example, that at a public forum in April at NC Central University Peterson made the totally unsubstantiated charge the accuser's test results had been tampered with at Duke Hospital. The forum panel ignored her.

So why did she get so much "attention" at this last council meeting? Why wasn't she ignored as she usually is when she rants?

Because, IMO, council members wanted to send messages for everyone to "read."

Council members' message to DA Mike Nifong: "Yes, Mike, we know she was your election campaign co-chair and is now your most vocal supporter. And sure, most of us are fellow Democrats who said not a word critical of you before the election. In fact some of us publicly praised your handling of the Duke lacrosse case. Mayor Bell even contributed to your primary campaign fund and showed up at one of your campaign functions.

But things change, Mike.

So we're doing something we don't usually do: slam Peterson.

It's the easiest way we can think of to start putting distance between us and you."

Members' message to voters: "We've had concerns about what Nifong's been doing but, just like Duke's President, Dick Brodhead, we've been reluctant to interfere in the legal process. But we'll tell you this: the other night after the council meeting we said to Nifong's campaign co-chair ....."

Let's read one more message. It's from council member and Duke administrator Mike Woodard. It's meant for wide distribution among Duke alumni and Durham citizens: "Hi, everyone! Did you all notice the H-S reported I told Victoria Peterson I didn't ‘appreciate seeing [her] in television news reports about the lacrosse case 'spewing lies and venom,' and marching with a hate group, the New Black Panther Party, that came to Durham last spring to picket the Duke campus? President Brodhead feels the same way."

What should we all do now that we've "read" the messages?

You'll decide for yourselves but I'll offer one piece of advice based on what I know about Brodhead and "the Brodhead senior administration team:" Don't ask why Woodard wasn't saying publicly last spring what he just said a few days ago. And, of course, don't ask why Brodhead didn't say something like that to Peterson last spring.

In fact, don't even think of asking Brodhead or Woodard why they didn't say to Peterson even a week before the November election what Woodard just said to her.

Brodhead wants us all to "look forward." I'm sure Woodard and the rest of the council do too.

And we can all "read" their message, can't we?